Iowa's doors swing open today to gay marriage

MASON CITY, IOWA -- By all accounts, same-sex couples who applied for marriage licenses across Iowa today didn't encounter problems with count recorders or protesters.

Advocates were monitoring about 25 percent of Iowa's county recorder offices today to help couples navigate the process on the first day they can legally request a marriage license.

They said they didn't expect trouble at county recorder offices, thanks in part to a command by Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller for all recorders to accept marriage license applications from same-sex couples. Miller warned that his office would take legal action if recorders refuse to comply.

"We don't walk in there with the idea that our elected officials are going to do anything but obey the law," said Carolyn Jenison, executive director of One Iowa, the state's largest GLBT rights organization. See 

Iowa's doors swing open today to gay marriage

Minneapolis Star Tribune